Nippy Corn, any handling strategies?

[Hapa_Haole]

My new corn snake really doesn't like being handled. She is a juvenile and doesn't like being touched. Today was the 7th day I've had her so I tried to handle her but she seemed very stressed out so I didn't pursue it. She also struck at me a couple of times. Any tips for getting her used to being handled?

-Dennis

[RichardA]

Alot of colubrids are quite nippy as youngsters and usually will mellow out with age. Usually by the time they are yearlings they are rather calm and then will go through "teenager" spells for a while then calm back down.

Gentle handling and working through the nips and bites will show them you are not afraid and are not gonna hurt them.

[Blue Apple Herps]

I'd let her settle a little while longer if you've only had her a week. But as Nightmare Creatures correctly pointed out, many can be nippy, especially when they're young. As the age and with calm handling, most will calm down. Usually ~6-8 months in my experience the corns really calm down, then by a year, they're pretty much all very tame.

Just don't back down if he does nip you.

[python.princess]

Mine used to be nippy like that- I would always cover her head and then lift her. Once she was in my hands, she was fine. And the one time she did tag me, it just felt like someone pulled on my skin with an eraser or something... just grippy. No pain. At all.

[Hapa_Haole]

Thanks. I'll give her a couple more days to settle then have another go at it.

I have yet to be bitten by a snake but I've been wanting to join the snake-bite club for a while now. I'm just worried I'll flinch when I get hit and potentially hurt her.

[python.princess]

Honestly, I was relieved when I finally got the whole getting bitten thing overwith. At least that way you know it's not as bad as you imagine! Well, we'll see if that's true with my new retic or not...

[Hapa_Haole]

Jeez she sure loves putting on a show...tons of hissing and tail vibrating. At least I know when she's about to strike. I placed a shirt in the tank to get her used to my smell and she started attacking it immediately. I'm new to corns but is this behavior a wee bit more aggressive than most? I must say that I'm not her favorite thing in the world...

The second day I had her I needed to make some tank changes so I had to take her out. She made a good effort trying to get away but was in no way aggressive towards me. Any ideas for why she is so strikey now? She surely is gonna take some work to calm down...

[playBALL]

I think with a little more time to settle in she should be ok. I have 5 babies now im working with. I have had them for 2 months now. 2 out of the 5 were nippers I had been bit anytime I tried to put my hand near there face. 1 I so called STRIKER he would swish from side to side hissing and shaking his tail. He seemed to strike at anything that he could see ..hehe .
After being bitten 4-5 times a handling I figured I was gonna show him who the boss was. Even if you do get bitten it is so fast you probably wouldnt even know it. Any way I started being more agressive in holding him I mean i wouldnt put my hand with fingers up toward his face I let him move from hand to hand with open hands. I would do this with him until he calmed down at that session. It took a good month but now I cant even get him or the others to strike at me. They still do the tail shake but I just pick them right up gently and I think they have now figured Im their way out of their little tubs ..hope that helps but be patient your snake is just scared. I have 8 of them right now and all are handlable by any of my friends. young and old ..

[Hapa_Haole]

My snake sounds exactly like your striker used to...her nickname is quickly becoming Devil Woman. But your story was very encouraging! I've been taking it pretty slow with her but maybe its time to kick it in gear and take some bites. I know she won't hurt me but I do some decent flinching when she strikes and I really don't want to injure her teeth/mouth. Maybe I'll just have to go at her with my eyes closed...lol. ; )